Security

Iran: Mousavi under 'house arrest'

Tehran, 25 June (AKI) - Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was placed under house arrest on Thursday, Iranian sources have claimed. The reformist website 'Nasimfarda' made the claim about Mousavi's house arrest amid continuing unrest in the country since the presidential elections on 12 June.

"All of Mousavi's aides and collaborators have been arrested and the government is trying to completely isolate him from the reformist protesters," the website reportedly said.

However, official Iranian sources have not yet confirmed the arrest of Mousavi.

Unrest has grown in Iran since hardline presidential incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of the 12 June election - a vote the opposition claims was rigged.

Mousavi and his supporters are demanding an annulment of the election and the Guardian Council, the country's electoral body, will give its final verdict on the election on Sunday but it has already indicated it will not annul the election result.

According to official Iranian media, Ahmadinejad received 62.3 percent of the vote, or 24.5 million votes, compared to Mousavi's 33.7 percent or 13.2 million votes.

Foreign media have been subjected to tight restrictions and reporters are not allowed to cover unauthorised gatherings or move around freely in Tehran.

At least 17 people are believed to have been killed in more than a week of street protests in Tehran.

The country is experiencing the most dramatic political upheaval in more than 30 years since the Islamic revolution in 1979.